FIFA fines Italian soccer 27,000 euro for fans' Nazi salute

The international soccer federation FIFA announced that it would fine the Italian soccer federation FIGC 27,000 euro, following an incident last month during which Italian fans made a Nazi salute during the playing of “Hatikva,” Israel’s national anthem, at a World Cup qualifying match in Haifa.

FIFA cited “discrimination and improper conduct” in justification of its decision.

The incident was one of a string of anti-Semitic incidents plaguing the soccer world.

A week earlier, supporters of Glasgow’s Celtic Football Club waved PLO flags during their Champions League qualifier against Israel’s Hapoel Be'er Sheva, prompting the Union of European Football (UEFA)to launch disciplinary proceedings against Celtic.